Camilo José Cela

Camilo José Cela - Novelists, Birthday and Family

Violet FieldHome › SpanishCamilo José CelaMay 11, 1916364 views

0 based on 0 rates
Camilo José Cela Biography Stories 

Camilo José Cela's Personal Details

Camilo José Cela was a renowned Spanish writer from the post war Spanish literature period

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 11, 1916
Died onJanuary 17, 2002
NationalitySpanish
FamousWriters, Novelists, Short Story Writers, Essayists
SpousesMaría del Rosario Conde Picavea, Marina Castaño
Known asCamilo Jose Cela, Camilo Cela, Camilo José Cela y Trulock
ChildrensCamilo José Cela Conde
Universities
  • Complutense University of Madrid
Birth PlaceIria Flavia
GenderMale
FatherCamilo Crisanto Cela y Fernández
MotherCamila Emanuela Trulock y Bertorini
Sun SignTaurus
Born inIria Flavia
Famous asWriter
Died at Age85

// Famous Writers

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is a well-known American writer, autistic activist and animal expert. This biography profiles her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. This biography of Tennessee Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline.

Camilo José Cela's photo

Who is Camilo José Cela?

Camilo José Cela was a renowned Spanish writer from the post war Spanish literature period. For his contribution to the literature, he was awarded with Nobel Prize in 1989. Before venturing into a career in literature, he explored other fields like medicine, philosophy and law. However, during the the Spanish Civil War, he gave up his studies and began his career in literature. Camilo José Cela strived to write novels of a free genre; he used his creativity and observation to present each of his novels as different from the previous. He was considered a pioneer in the ‘tremendismo’ style of narration, which was marked by a tendency to emphasize violence and grotesque imagery. Camilo José Cela’s novels were a mix of various elements like tenderness, oral nonchalance, horror, humour and eschatological phrasing. He published 14 novels in the course of his career, apart from poems, travelogues, scripts, plays and articles. He was known to have a huge fan following in Spain and Latin America. Camilo José Cela is among the principal authors that are studied in literature schools in Spain and his works are considered as classics.

// Famous Novelists

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline

Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera is a Czech-born French writer known for his erotic and political writings. This biography of Milan Kundera provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was an eminent French writer, intellectual, activist, and philosopher. This biography profiles her childhood, life, thoughts, achievements and timeline.

Childhood & Early Life

Camilo José Cela was born on 11 May 1916 at Padrón, Galicia in Spain. His father’s name was Camilo Crisanto Cela y Fernánde and mother’s name was Camila Emanuela Trulock y Bertorini.

Between 1921 and 1925, Camilo José Cela lived in Viga after which his family moved to Madrid. Here, he was enrolled in the Piarist School.

In 1931, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to spend the next year in a sanatorium at Guadarrama. While at the sanatorium, he spent his time reading and, subsequently, began work on his novel titled ‘Pabellón de reposo’.

He enrolled into the Medicine Faculty of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in 1934, but soon dropped out and began attending classes at the Arts department of the same university.

At the university, he was tutored by Spanish poet Pedro Salinas with whom he shared his first poems and works. Pedro Salinas was known to have influenced him greatly to pursue a career in writing.

Career

In 1936, with the onset of the Spanish Civil War, Camilo José Cela enlisted as a soldier and served for Francisco Franco's army. He was wounded in the war and had to be hospitalized in Logroño.

The Civil War ended in 1939. During this period, he completed his work on a collection of poems titled ‘Pisando la dudosa luz del dia’; the poems were published in 1945.

After the end of the war, Camilo José Cela went on to pursue studies in Law for a while. It was during this phase that he commenced work on his debut novel, ‘La familia de Pascual Duarte’, a story set in rural Extremadura. The novel was written in a unique style of narration termed as ‘tremendismo’; a style that highlights violence. The novel was published in 1942 and became a huge success.

After the publication of the novel Camilo José Cela had to face issues from the Church as the content of his novel was considered rough and therefore the second volume of his novel was put through censorship.

The second installment was released in Buenos Aires, and with the success of this book he discontinued his studies at the Law School in order to pursue a career in writing.

Between 1944 and 1948, Camilo José Cela organized multiple painting exhibitions for his works. He also published his works named ‘El cancionero de La Alcarria’ and ‘Viaje a la Alcarria’.

In 1951 he completed work on his book ‘La Colmena’, that describes the brutality of life in Spain in the 1930s .This work regarded as his masterpiece, was banned from being published in Spain due to censorship issues and was published in Buenos Aires.

Camilo José Cela had made a deal with Venezuelan leader Marcos Pérez Jiménez that he would write a series of five books under the title ‘Historias de Venezuela’, detailing the autrocracy in the region. However, upon the completion of the first book ‘La Catira’, he was asked to discontinue from the project owing to its potential to have a negative effect among rational groups and cultural circles.

Camilo José Cela was fond of travelling only around Spain and expressed his disinterest in exploring other parts of the world. His travelogue books ‘Viaje a la Alcarria’ (1948) and ‘Del Miño al Bidasoa’ (1952) unveil the author’s inclination towards travel and food in Spain.

Other well-known works of the author include experimental novels like ‘San Camilo, 1936’ published in 1969, ‘Cristo versus Arizona’ (1988), the Galician trilogy—‘Mazurca para dos muertos’ (1983), ‘La cruz de San Andrés’ (1994), and ‘Madera de boj’ (1999).

In 1957, Camilo José Cela was assigned a seat as the member of the Royal Spanish Academy. He was appointed Royal Senator in the Constituent Cortes and this gave him the power to influence the phrasing of the Spanish Constitution of 1978.

His novel ‘‘La Colmena’ was adapted into a feature film in 1982 under the direction of Spanish Scriptwriter and director Mario Camus. Camilo José Cela contributed to the film as a scriptwriter and actor.

Major Works

Camilo José Cela was a renowned author known for his innovation and style of writing. His best known works include his novel’ La colmena’ (1951) and ‘San Camilo, 1936’ (1969). Some critics also credit him for the birth of the narrative style of writing termed as ‘tremendismo’.

Awards & Achievements

Camilo José Cela was the recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award in Literature in 1987.

In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".

Camilo José Cela was presented with the Premio Planeta de Novela in 1994.

Camilo José Cela won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in the year 1995.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1944, Camilo José Cela married María del Rosario Conde Picavea and the couple had a son named Camilo José Cela Conde. However, the relationship ended in a divorce in 1990.

In 1991, he married Marina Concepción Castaño López.

He died from heart disease on 17 January 2002, in Madrid, at the age of 85.

// Famous Short Story Writers

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski

Charles Bukowski was a German-born American novelist, short story writer and poet. With this biography, learn in details about his childhood, life, works, career and timeline

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is an award winning Indian author of British descent. This biography of Ruskin Bond provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is an English writer of novels, short stories, children’s books and other literature. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Camilo José Cela's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01989 - Nobel Prize in Literature
0 1996 - Miguel de Cervantes Prize
0 1987 - Prince of Asturias Award for Literature

Camilo José Cela biography timelines

  • // 11th May 1916
    Camilo José Cela was born on 11 May 1916 at Padrón, Galicia in Spain. His father’s name was Camilo Crisanto Cela y Fernánde and mother’s name was Camila Emanuela Trulock y Bertorini.
  • // 1921 To 1925
    Between 1921 and 1925, Camilo José Cela lived in Viga after which his family moved to Madrid. Here, he was enrolled in the Piarist School.
  • // 1931
    In 1931, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to spend the next year in a sanatorium at Guadarrama. While at the sanatorium, he spent his time reading and, subsequently, began work on his novel titled ‘Pabellón de reposo’.
  • // 1934
    He enrolled into the Medicine Faculty of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in 1934, but soon dropped out and began attending classes at the Arts department of the same university.
  • // 1936
    In 1936, with the onset of the Spanish Civil War, Camilo José Cela enlisted as a soldier and served for Francisco Franco's army. He was wounded in the war and had to be hospitalized in Logroño.
  • // 1939 To 1945
    The Civil War ended in 1939. During this period, he completed his work on a collection of poems titled ‘Pisando la dudosa luz del dia’; the poems were published in 1945.
  • // 1942
    After the end of the war, Camilo José Cela went on to pursue studies in Law for a while. It was during this phase that he commenced work on his debut novel, ‘La familia de Pascual Duarte’, a story set in rural Extremadura. The novel was written in a unique style of narration termed as ‘tremendismo’; a style that highlights violence. The novel was published in 1942 and became a huge success.
  • // 1944 To 1948
    Between 1944 and 1948, Camilo José Cela organized multiple painting exhibitions for his works. He also published his works named ‘El cancionero de La Alcarria’ and ‘Viaje a la Alcarria’.
  • // 1944 To 1990
    In 1944, Camilo José Cela married María del Rosario Conde Picavea and the couple had a son named Camilo José Cela Conde. However, the relationship ended in a divorce in 1990.
  • // 1948 To 1952
    Camilo José Cela was fond of travelling only around Spain and expressed his disinterest in exploring other parts of the world. His travelogue books ‘Viaje a la Alcarria’ (1948) and ‘Del Miño al Bidasoa’ (1952) unveil the author’s inclination towards travel and food in Spain.
  • // 1951
    In 1951 he completed work on his book ‘La Colmena’, that describes the brutality of life in Spain in the 1930s .This work regarded as his masterpiece, was banned from being published in Spain due to censorship issues and was published in Buenos Aires.
  • // 1957 To 1978
    In 1957, Camilo José Cela was assigned a seat as the member of the Royal Spanish Academy. He was appointed Royal Senator in the Constituent Cortes and this gave him the power to influence the phrasing of the Spanish Constitution of 1978.
  • // 1982
    His novel ‘‘La Colmena’ was adapted into a feature film in 1982 under the direction of Spanish Scriptwriter and director Mario Camus. Camilo José Cela contributed to the film as a scriptwriter and actor.
  • // 1987
    Camilo José Cela was the recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award in Literature in 1987.
  • // 1989
    In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "for a rich and intensive prose, which with restrained compassion forms a challenging vision of man's vulnerability".
  • // 1991
    In 1991, he married Marina Concepción Castaño López.
  • // 1994
    Camilo José Cela was presented with the Premio Planeta de Novela in 1994.
  • // 1995
    Camilo José Cela won the Miguel de Cervantes Prize in the year 1995.
  • // 17th Jan 2002
    He died from heart disease on 17 January 2002, in Madrid, at the age of 85.

// Famous Essayists

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is an award winning Indian author of British descent. This biography of Ruskin Bond provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir was an eminent French writer, intellectual, activist, and philosopher. This biography profiles her childhood, life, thoughts, achievements and timeline.

Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros

Sandra Cisneros is an American writer known for audaciously penning the realities and expectations from females in US and Mexico. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, theatre director and poet. This biography profiles his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline

Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Lisa Brennan-Jobs

Check out all that you wanted to know about Lisa Brennan-Jobs, Steve Jobs’ daughter; her birthday, her family and personal life, fun trivia facts and more.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson was a famous Scottish poet, novelist and travel writer. This biography profiles his childhood, career, life, achievements, trivia and timeline.

Camilo José Cela's FAQ

  • What is Camilo José Cela birthday?

    Camilo José Cela was born at 1916-05-11

  • When was Camilo José Cela died?

    Camilo José Cela was died at 2002-01-17

  • Where was Camilo José Cela died?

    Camilo José Cela was died in Madrid

  • Which age was Camilo José Cela died?

    Camilo José Cela was died at age 85

  • Where is Camilo José Cela's birth place?

    Camilo José Cela was born in Iria Flavia

  • What is Camilo José Cela nationalities?

    Camilo José Cela's nationalities is Spanish

  • Who is Camilo José Cela spouses?

    Camilo José Cela's spouses is María del Rosario Conde Picavea, Marina Castaño

  • Who is Camilo José Cela childrens?

    Camilo José Cela's childrens is Camilo José Cela Conde

  • What was Camilo José Cela universities?

    Camilo José Cela studied at Complutense University of Madrid

  • Who is Camilo José Cela's father?

    Camilo José Cela's father is Camilo Crisanto Cela y Fernández

  • Who is Camilo José Cela's mother?

    Camilo José Cela's mother is Camila Emanuela Trulock y Bertorini

  • What is Camilo José Cela's sun sign?

    Camilo José Cela is Taurus

  • How famous is Camilo José Cela?

    Camilo José Cela is famouse as Writer